The School of Communication of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong successfully hosted the Joint School Advisory Committees Meeting cum Retreat for AY2025/26 on 22 August 2026 at the Royal Plaza Hotel.
This significant gathering brought together 30 esteemed members of the School’s advisory committees, external examiners, and part-time lecturers alongside the School’s faculty and staff. The event sought to explore the future direction of communication education in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and globalisation, fostering in-depth discussions on emerging challenges and opportunities in the field.
The event commenced with a welcoming introduction by Professor Ronald Chiu, Associate Dean of the School of Communication, who outlined the purpose and framework of the meeting. This was followed by Professor Scarlet Tso, Dean of the School of Communication, who delivered the opening remarks. Professor Tso reflected on the School’s significant achievements over the past year, which included increased enrolment figures across all six programmes, strengthened engagement with external bodies, and academic milestones. Standout accomplishments encompassed the launch of the Master of Arts in Entertainment Media Management and Communication, the successful acquisition of research grants, and numerous accolades received by students in prestigious competitions.
To express gratitude for the continuous support of the advisory committees, Professor Tso presented appointment certificate to Professor Chen Ling in recognition of her contributions.
Programme Directors shared updates about their respective curriculum developments, focusing on academic enhancements, AI integration, and interdisciplinary approaches.
Group Discussions & Key Outcomes
Participants engaged in interactive group discussions on five focused themes:
- Managing Over-Reliance on Artificial Intelligence in Student Learning
- Highlighted the importance of utilising AI as a learning tool while preserving students’ critical thinking and creativity.
- Balancing AI Proficiency with Communication Competencies
- Emphasised the need to ensure robust communication skills alongside AI proficiency to meet market demands.
- Preserving Foundational Communication Theories in a Technology-Driven Curriculum
- Affirmed the relevance of traditional theories amidst technological advancements.
- Expanding Academic Programmes to Address Emerging Trends in Communication
- Proposed exploring areas such as Sport Communication, Health Communication, AI Storytelling, and Sustainable Communication.
- Fostering Intercultural Integration in an Internationalised Learning Environment
- Recommended strategies to manage diverse student cohorts, including encouraging local language learning and intercultural collaboration.
Participants acknowledged AI as a tool that enhances efficiency but stressed that human creativity remains irreplaceable.
Looking Forward
The retreat concluded with robust recommendations, including expanding academic offerings in niche areas, promoting internationalisation, and tailoring curricula to incorporate AI-driven tools. Professor Tso extended gratitude to attendees for their insightful contributions, committing to review and implement these recommendations to maintain the School’s competitive edge.
Lunch was hosted after the discussions, fostering informal exchanges in a relaxed atmosphere.
Professor Scarlet Tso, Dean of School of Communication, provided a comprehensive summary of the School’s accomplishments throughout the past year.
Professor Ronald Chiu outlined the purpose and framework of the meeting.
Professor Tso presented appointment certificate to Professor Chen Ling in recognition of her contributions.
Guests and academic staff share their views in the discussion session.
Dr. Chan Chi Kit, then Programme Director of the Bachelor of Journalism and Communication (Honours) and Programme Director of the Master of Arts in Entertainment Media Management and Communication, provided the attendees with an overview of the latest developments in their respective programmes and outlined their plans for the upcoming year.
Professor Trevor Siu, Programme Directors of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Convergent Media and Communication Technology, Master of Arts in Digital Media for Online Communication, provided the attendees with an overview of the latest developments in their respective programmes and outlined their plans for the upcoming year.
Dr. Clio Wu, Programme Director of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Arts and Culture Communication, provided the attendees with an overview of the latest developments in their respective programmes and outlined their plans for the upcoming year.
Dr. Howard Song, Programme Director of the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication, provided the attendees with an over view of the latest developments in their respective programmes and outlined their plans for the upcoming year.
The event brought together advisory committee members, external examiners and part-time lecturers from the School and its six programmes, along with the School’s faculty and staff.
